JOE DODD: Gilmer v. Pine Tree Game Info & Notes
August 30- Longview Pine Tree
Mascot: Pirates
Colors: Blue, Gold & White
District: 9-4A DI
Enrollment: 1,256.5
Head Coach: Jason Bachman (3rd season, 8-13; 3rd season, 8-13 overall)
Formation: Multiple
Defensive Formation: Multiple
Pine Tree Pirates 2023 Season Summary
Record: 6-5, 4-2 in District; 5A DII bi-district finalist
Returning Lettermen: 19
Returning Off. Starters: 7
Returning Def. Starters: 4
Pine Tree Players to Watch:
#76 OL Peyton Davis, Sr., 6’3” 270 (Holds offers from Tarleton and McMurry)
#6 DB Kalil Deckard, Sr., 5’9”, 150, 4.5 (Holds offers from Coffeyville CC, East Central University, Howard Payne, 2023:1st Team All-District)
#10 WR Jordan Taylor, Sr., 5’10”, 160, 4.5 (Holds offers from Bethel College, Howard Payne. 2023 stats: 36 catches for 667 yards, 8 TDs)
#18 LB Seth McFarland, Sr., 6’1”, 225 (3-star recruit committed to the University of Houston. 2023 stats: 122 tackles, 3 sacks, 6 QB pressures, 3 forced fumbles, 1st Team All District)
#4 QB Matt Cates, Jr., 6’0”, 160, (3rd year as starting quarterback. 2023 stats: 1,421 yards, 13 TDs passing; 630 yards rushing. 1st Team All-District)
#24 RB L’Marion Hunter, 5’6”, 162, 4.48 (2023 stats: 110 carries for 704 yards and 8 touchdowns. 1st Team All-District)
Longview Pine Tree Historical Stats, Records, and Program Information (Source: www.TexasHighSchoolFootballHistory.com and smoaky.com)
YEAR W-L-T COACH
2014 1-9-0 David Collins
2015 4-6-0 David Collins
2016 2-8-0 Kerry Lane
2017 3-8-0 Kerry Lane
2018 5-5-0 Kerry Lane
2019 5-6-0 Kerry Lane
2020 9-2-0 Kerry Lane
2021 4-6-0 Kerry Lane
2022 2-8-0 Jason Backman
2023 6-5-0 Jason Backman
BY DECADES W- L- T
1936-39 22-8-2
1940-49 52-34-8
1950-59 50-49-2
1960-69 63-35-1
1970-79 64-37-2
1980-89 42-56-3
1990-99 31-69-1
2000-09 29-72-0
2010-19 29-71-0
2020-23 21-21-1
TOTAL: 403-452-20
Undefeated Seasons: 1 (1938)
Winless Seasons: 2 (1953, 1992)
State Championship Game Appearances: 0
State Championships: 0
District Championships: 8 (1938, 1950, 1959, 1963, 1974, 1976, 1977 Co, 2001 Co) Last District Championship: 1977
Playoff Appearances: 14
Last Playoff Appearance: 2023, Lost 34-6 to Lucas Lovejoy in 5A DII Bi-district round Playoff Record: 4-11-0
GILMER
Mascot: Buckeyes
Colors: Black & Orange
District: 7-4A DII
Enrollment: 848
Head Coach: Alan Metzel (5th season, 52-8 at Gilmer; 52-8 overall)
Offensive Formation: Spread
Defensive Formation: 4-2-5
Gilmer Buckeyes 2023 Season Summary
Record: 13-3, 4-1 in District; 4A DII State Champions
Returning Lettermen: 35
Returning Off. Starters: 5
Returning Def. Starters: 7
Gilmer Players to Watch:
#0 K/LB Brayden Pate, Sr., 5’9”, 188 (2023 1st Team MaxPreps Small Town All-American Kicker, 2023 Blue Bell/TSWA Class 4-A All-State First Team Kicker. 2023 stats:12 of 12 FG’s [including 3 game winners] and 95 of 103 PAT’s for 131 points. Pate’s 95 successful extra-point kicks are the most in a season in Gilmer history)
#1 DB/QB Cadon Tennison, Sr., 5’11”, 175, 4.7 (Holds offers from Incarnate Word, SMU and UTSA. 2023 stats: 180 of 306 (59%) passing for 2,703 yards, 27 touchdowns and 5 interceptions; 95 carries, 573 yards, 6 touchdowns. 4th year starter)
#3 RB/CB Trillyon Butler, Sr., 5’10”, 160, 4.38 (2023 stats: 43 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 1 sack)
#4 WR/DB Mykah Easley, Sr., 6’4”, 175, 4.4 (Holds offers from Arkansas State, SMU, Texas State, UTEP and UTSA. 2023 stats: 50 tackles, 3 pass breakups, 2 interceptions)
#7 WR/DB Brendan Webb, Sr., 6’0”, 170, 4.5 (Padilla Poll 1st Team All State WR and DB. 3- star prospect, holds offers from Arkansas State, Fordham, North Texas, Northwestern State, Stephen F Austin, Tarleton, Texas Southern, Texas State, UTEP and UTSA. 2023 stats: 60 catches for 886 yards and 12 touchdowns, 25 carries for 257 yards, 4 touchdowns and 51 tackles, 5 interceptions, 6 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries)
#13 WR/DB Geramiah Noble, Sr., 5’10”, 160 (2023 stats: 35 catches for 566 yards, 4 TD’S; 46 tackles, 2 tackles for loss)
#16 QB Brady McCown, Sr., 6’2”, 200 (Transfer from Jacksonville. 2023 stats: 81 of 180 (61%) passing for 1,188 yards, 10 touchdowns and 8 interceptions in 7 games; in his first season as a starter for an 0-10 Jacksonville team)
#42 DL/TE Trey Lee, Jr., 6’2”, 220, (2023 stats: 49 tackles, 10 quarterback pressures, 5 tackles for loss, 2 fumble recoveries)
#44 DL Davion King, So., 6’2”, 265 (Holds offers from Lamar, North Texas, UTEP and UTSA 2023 stats: 43 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 sack)
#54 DL Tyler Hagler, Jr., 6’0”, 323 (Holds offers from Houston, Texas Tech, UTEP and UTSA. 2023 District 7-4A Defensive Newcomer of the Year. 2023 stats: 97 tackles, 3 sacks, 25 quarterback pressures, 15 tackles for loss)
#72 OL/DL Ismael Camara, So., 6’7”, 357 (Transfer from Le Mans, France. Holds offers from Lamar, Mississippi, North Texas, Tennessee, Texas State, Texas Tech and UTSA)
#75 OL/DL Lucas Cano, Sr., 6’2”, 305, 5.4 (2023 Padilla Poll 1st Team All State. Holds offers from Incarnate Word, SMU and UTSA. 4th year varsity starter)
SERIES HISTORY
First meeting: 1951, Pine Tree won 34-12
Last meeting: 2015, Gilmer won 35-19 after taking a 29-0 lead into halftime before the Pirates scored 19 consecutive points in the second half. The Buckeyes Cambron Granville scored the final touchdown of the game with 7:53 to play in the 4th quarter
Series Record: Pine Tree leads: 17-16-1
All-Time Scores
1951: Pine Tree 34 Gilmer 12
1952: Gilmer 18 Pine Tree 6
1954: Gilmer 8 Pine Tree 7
1955: Pine Tree 7 Gilmer 6
1956: Gilmer 7 Pine Tree 7
1957: Gilmer 25 Pine Tree 2
1958: Gilmer 20 Pine Tree 0
1959: Gilmer 26 Pine Tree 7
1960: Gilmer 28 Pine Tree 15
1961: Gilmer 22 Pine Tree 6
1962: Pine Tree 30 Gilmer 0
1963: Pine Tree 20 Gilmer 6
1964: Pine Tree 21 Gilmer 16
1965: Pine Tree 41 Gilmer 7
1966: Pine Tree 15 Gilmer 13
1967: Pine Tree 50 Gilmer 0
1968: Pine Tree 28 Gilmer 6
1971: Pine Tree 34 Gilmer 0
1972: Pine Tree 15 Gilmer 6
1973: Gilmer 16 Pine Tree 15
1974: Pine Tree 21 Gilmer 6
1975: Pine Tree 14 Gilmer 8
1996: Gilmer 14 Pine Tree 7
1997: Pine Tree 24 Gilmer 7
1998: Pine Tree 49 Gilmer 27
1999: Pine Tree 16 Gilmer 6
2000: Gilmer 6 Pine Tree 2
2001: Gilmer 17 Pine Tree 14
2002: Pine Tree 14 Gilmer 7
2003: Gilmer 29 Pine Tree 6
2004: Gilmer 48 Pine Tree 7
2005: Gilmer 45 Pine Tree 16
2014: Gilmer 68 Pine Tree 20
2015: Gilmer 35 Pine Tree 19
STREAKS
Gilmer has a 5 game winning streak over Pine Tree (last loss: 14-7 in 2002)
Gilmer has a 4 game regular season winning streak (last loss: 63-28 to Texarkana Pleasant Grove, 10/6/2023)
Gilmer has a 10 game winning streak (last loss: 63-28 to Texarkana Pleasant Grove, 10/6/2023)
Gilmer has a 2 game winning streak at Jeff Traylor Stadium (last loss: 63-28 to Texarkana Pleasant Grove, 10/6/2023)
Gilmer has a 77 consecutive games scoring streak (last shutout was 14-0 to Pleasant Grove in 2018)
GAME NOTES
Gilmer is ranked 2nd in the Class 4A-II Pigskinprep.com power rankings and in the MaxPreps.com 4A-II power rankings
Longview Pine Tree is ranked 14th in the MaxPreps.com 4A-I power rankings and 21st in the Class 4A-I Pigskinprep.com power rankings
Gilmer is a 21 points favorite over Longview Pine Tree according to PigskinPrep.com which predicts a 38-17 victory for the Buckeyes
GILMER SEASON NOTES
Gilmer’s non-district schedule consists of four Class 4A DI teams and one 5A DII team. All 4 of the Class 4A DI teams are ranked in the Top 21 in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine’s pre-season poll and the 5A-II team is ranked 28th out of 118 5A-II teams
PINE TREE SEASON NOTES
Pine Tree moved down to 4A Division I in classification at this year’s UIL realignment. It is the first time that the Pirates have been classified a 4A school since the 2013 football season, when class 5A was the largest classification in Texas
GILMER HISTORICAL NOTES
Gilmer’s first football season was in 1914 and this is Gilmer’s 111th consecutive season to field a team
Gilmer’s 1,188 games played are the 12th most in Texas high school football history (Source: www.TexasHighSchoolFootballHistory.com)
Gilmer has never had a winless season
Gilmer’s 747 wins are the 12th most in Texas high school football history (Source: www.TexasHighSchoolFootballHistory.com)
Gilmer’s 39 district championships are tied for the 9th most in Texas high school football history (Source: www.TexasHighSchoolFootballHistory.com)
Gilmer’s 28 seasons with 10 wins or more is tied for the 10th most in Texas high school football history (Source: www.TexasHighSchoolFootballHistory.com)
Gilmer has recorded 16 undefeated regular seasons, tied for 7th most in Texas high school football history (Source: www.TexasHighSchoolFootballHistory.com)
Gilmer has either won the state championship or lost in the playoffs to the eventual state champion in 14 of the past 21 years:
2003-lost to 3A DII State Champion Atlanta in round 4
2004-won 3A DI State Championship
2006-lost to 3A DI State Champion Texarkana Liberty-Eylau in round 1
2007-lost to State Champion Liberty Hill in 3A DI State Championship
2008-lost to 3A DII State Champion Carthage in round 4
2009-won 3A DII State Championship
2012-lost to State Champion Navasota 3A DII State Championship
2013-lost to 3A DII State Champion Argyle in round 3
2014-won 4A DII State Championship
2019-lost to 4A DII State Champion Texarkana Pleasant Grove in round 4 2020-lost to State Champion Carthage in 4A DII State Championship
2021-lost to State Champion China Springs in 4A DII State Championship
2022-lost to 4A DII State Champion Carthage in in round 3
2023-won 4A DII State Championship
Gilmer’s appearance in the 2023 State Championship game tied Carthage for the most ever (9) in Class 4A and tied the Buckeyes for 15th most appearances among all classifications in Texas high school football history (Source: University Interscholastic League)
Gilmer is just the 13th school in Texas high school football history to win 100 playoff games Gilmer is 279-51 since 2000 (85%)
Gilmer is 207-32 in regular season games since 2000 (87%)
DID YOU KNOW?
Since 2000, Gilmer is 22-2 (92%) in season openers
Since 2000, Gilmer is 240-13 (95%) when scoring 30 or more points in a game. When scoring less than 30 points in a game; Gilmer is 39-38 (51%)
Since 1980, the Buckeyes have lost only 16 games when scoring at least 30 points Since 2000, Gilmer has more playoff wins (73) than regular season losses (32)
Gilmer head coach Alan Metzel’s 87% winning percentage is the 7th best among all active coaches in Texas (with a minimum of 50 games. Source: www.TexasHighSchoolFootballHistory.com)
Gilmer is the 2023 & 2024 Texas 4A State Champion in Track & Field. The Buckeyes won the 4×100 meters relay with a 4A state record time of 40.56 and won the 4×200 meters relay with a time of 1:24.71. Two current members of the Buckeyes football team, Trillyon Butler and Mycah Easley were members of both relay teams. Current Buckeyes offensive lineman Lucas Cano placed second in the discus and receiver/defensive back Brendan Webb participated in the high jump
Gilmer’s three losses in 2023 were to Chapel Hill, Kilgore and Texarkana Pleasant Grove, which finished with a combined record of 37-6, including Chapel Hill’s loss in the 4A D-I State Championship game